Genes to enhance disease resistance in crops

ABSTRACT

The present invention pertains to methods, means and uses of nucleic acids and polypeptides for conferring, modifying or improving plant resistance against fungal infections. Particularly, the invention provides nucleic acids and polypeptides for conferring, modifying or improving plant resistance against fungal infections. The invention also provides vectors, cells and plants. Also, the invention provides methods for creating corresponding plant cells and plants, and for identification of agents for conferring, modifying or improving plant resistance against fungal infections.

This application is a National Stage application of International Application No. PCT/IB2012/057313, filed Dec. 14, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/579,700, filed Dec. 23, 2011. This application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to European Patent Application No. 11195696.7, filed Dec. 23, 2011.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED VIA EFS-WEB

This application is being filed electronically via EFS-Web and includes an electronically submitted sequence listing in .txt format. The .txt file contains a sequence listing entitled “Seq_List.txt” created on Mar. 19, 2014, and is 192,512 bytes in size. The sequence listing contained in this .txt file is part of the specification and is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of increasing resistance against fungal pathogens in transgenic plants and/or plant cells. In these plants, specific genes are overexpressed or silenced, which show differential expression pattern in Arabidopsis and soybean after inoculation with soybean rust. Depending on the activating or inhibitory function of a particular signaling compound overexpression or knock-down of the cognate gene might be used.

Furthermore, the invention relates to transgenic plants and/or plant cells having an increased resistance against fungal pathogens, for example soybean rust and to recombinant expression vectors comprising a sequence that is identical or homologous to a sequence encoding a functional ethylene signaling compound or fragments thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The cultivation of agricultural crop plants serves mainly for the production of foodstuffs for humans and animals. Monocultures in particular, which are the rule nowadays, are highly susceptible to an epidemic-like spreading of diseases. The result is markedly reduced yields. To date, the pathogenic organisms have been controlled mainly by using pesticides. Nowadays, the possibility of directly modifying the genetic disposition of a plant or pathogen is also open to man.

Resistance generally means the ability of a plant to prevent, or at least curtail the infestation and colonization by a harmful pathogen. Different mechanisms can be discerned in the naturally occurring resistance, with which the plants fend off colonization by phytopathogenic organisms. These specific interactions between the pathogen and the host determine the course of infection (Schopfer and Brennicke (1999) Pflanzenphysiologie, Springer Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg, Germany).

With regard to the race specific resistance, also called host resistance, a differentiation is made between compatible and incompatible interactions. In the compatible interaction, an interaction occurs between a virulent pathogen and a susceptible plant. The pathogen survives, and may build up reproduction structures, while the host mostly dies off. An incompatible interaction occurs on the other hand when the pathogen infects the plant but is inhibited in its growth before or after weak development of symptoms. In the latter case, the plant is resistant to the respective pathogen (Schopfer and Brennicke, vide supra). However, this type of resistance is specific for a certain strain or pathogen.

In both compatible and incompatible interactions a defensive and specific reaction of the host to the pathogen occurs. In nature, however, this resistance is often overcome because of the rapid evolutionary development of new virulent races of the pathogens (Neu et al. (2003) American Cytopathol. Society, MPMI 16 No. 7: 626-633).

Most pathogens are plant-species specific. This means that a pathogen can induce a disease in a certain plant species, but not in other plant species (Heath (2002) Can. J. Plant Pathol. 24: 259-264). The resistance against a pathogen in certain plant species is called non-host resistance. The non-host resistance offers strong, broad, and permanent protection from phytopathogens. Genes providing non-host resistance provide the opportunity of a strong, broad and permanent protection against certain diseases in non-host plants. In particular such a resistance works for different strains of the pathogen.

Fungi are distributed worldwide. Approximately 100 000 different fungal species are known to date. The rusts are of great importance. They can have a complicated development cycle with up to five different spore stages (spermatium, aecidiospore, uredospore, teleutospore and basidiospore).

During the infection of plants by pathogenic fungi, different phases are usually observed. The first phases of the interaction between phytopathogenic fungi and their potential host plants are decisive for the colonization of the plant by the fungus. During the first stage of the infection, the spores become attached to the surface of the plants, germinate, and the fungus penetrates the plant. Fungi may penetrate the plant via existing ports such as stomata, lenticels, hydatodes and wounds, or else they penetrate the plant epidermis directly as the result of the mechanical force and with the aid of cell-wall-digesting enzymes. Specific infection structures are developed for penetration of the plant. The soybean rust Phakopsora pachyrhizi directly penetrates the plant epidermis. After crossing the epidermal cell, the fungus reaches the intercellular space of the mesophyll, where the fungus starts to spread through the leaves. To acquire nutrients the fungus penetrates mesophyll cells and develops haustoria inside the mesophyl cell. During the penetration process the plasma membrane of the penetrated mesophyll cell stays intact. Therefore the soybean rust fungus establishes a biotrophic interaction with soybean.

Immediately after the attachment of the spore to the plant cell, the plants sense the presence of the pathogen. Mostly the presence of the pathogen is sensed via so called PAMP receptors, a class of trans-membrane receptor like kinases recognizing conserved pathogen associated molecules (e.g. flagellin or chitin). Downstream of the PAMP receptors, a signaling cascade is initiated leading to the elicitation of defense reactions. On the other hand the pathogen is counteracting the defense related signaling pathway by injecting so-called effector proteins into the host cell. The effectors lead to the inhibition, weakening or deregulation of the defense regulation, in a way that the pathogen can further colonize the plant. But these effectors might also be recognized by the plant by major R- (resistance) genes of the NBS-LRR class, leading to a strong defense response.

During million years of evolution, every pathogen shaped its effector set in a way to block exactly those defense reactions that are most effective against the particular pathogen. So, the most interesting genes, in terms of creating a disease resistant plant, are those genes that are suppressed by the pathogen in their respective host plant.

Immediately after recognition of a potential pathogen the plant starts to elicit defense reactions.

Soybean rust has become increasingly important in recent times. The disease may be caused by the biotrophic rusts Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur). They belong to the class Basidiomycota, order Uredinales, family Phakopsoraceae. Both rusts infect a wide spectrum of leguminosic host plants. P. pachyrhizi, also referred to as Asian rust, is an aggressive pathogen on soy (Glycine max, Soja hispida or Soja max), and is therefore, at least currently, of great importance for agriculture. P. pachyrhizi can be found in nearly all tropical and subtropical soy growing regions of the world. P. pachyrhizi is capable of infecting 31 species from 17 families of the Leguminosae under natural conditions and is capable of growing on further 60 species under controlled conditions (Sinclair et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the rust workshop (1995), National SoyaResearch Laboratory, Publication No. 1 (1996); Rytter J. L. et al., Plant Dis. 87, 818 (1984)). P. meibomiae has been found in the Caribbean Basin and in Puerto Rico, and has not caused substantial damage as yet.

P. pachyrhizi can currently be controlled in the field only by means of fungicides. Soy plants with resistance to the entire spectrum of the isolates are not available. When searching for resistant plants, four dominant genes Rpp1-4, which mediate resistance of soy to P. pachyrhizi, were discovered. The resistance was lost rapidly, as P. pychyrhizi develops new virulent races.

In recent years, fungal diseases, e.g. soybean rust, has gained in importance as pest in agricultural production. There was therefore a demand in the prior art for developing methods to control fungi and to provide fungal resistant plants.

Much research has been performed on the field of powdery and downy mildew infecting the epidermal layer of plants. However, the problem to cope with soybean rust which infects the mesophyll remains unsolved. This problem is worsened by the fact that prior to the present invention no prediction could be made regarding plant genes involved in resistance against soybean rust. Thus, constructing resistant plants by means of genetic modification and/or breeding was a matter of try and error, severely reducing the chances of obtaining resistant plants. Also, as no prediction could be made regarding plant genes involved in resistance against soybean rust, it was also not possible to screen in any technically meaningful way for chemical agents increasing expression of genes involved in soybean rust resistance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is thus to provide means for conferring, improving or modifying resistance of plant cells and plants against infections by a fungal pathogen, preferably against infections by a pathogen of the class Basidiomycota, preferably of the order Uredinales, more preferably of the family Phakopsoraceae, even more preferably against soybean rust, even more preferably of the genus Phacopsora, most preferably of the species Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and/or Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur). The invention further provides corresponding nucleic acids, proteins, vectors, host cells, plant cells and plants. Also, it was an object of the present invention to provide means and methods for identification of agents for conferring, increasing or modifying resistance against the fungal infections of a plant as compared to a corresponding wild type plant.

Surprisingly the inventors found new genes mediating resistance of soybean against soybean rust by comparing gene expression in mutants of a non-host species for soybean rust, i.e. Arabidopsis thaliana. Microscopically ˜90% of the fungi were stopped by the plant defense already in the epidermal cell layer. However, the Arabidopsis pen2 mutant (Lipka et al. 2005 Science 310: 1180-1183) allows the penetration of soybean rust into the mesophyll cell layers, but nearly no haustoria could be built by soybean rust in the Arabidopsis pen2 mutant. A third mutant Arabidopsis pen2 pad4 sag101 (Lipka et al. 2005 Science 310: 1180-1183) allows beside the efficient penetration of ASR into the mesophyll, the formation haustoria (˜30% of interactions). By comparing genes up-regulated during the time of mesophyll based defense reactions (48 hpi) in the wild-type and the different mutants the inventors isolated the genes responsible for the mesophyll based resistance reactions in Arabidopsis, which is normally obscured by the strong epidermal defense in Arabidopsis wild type. Using the described method to select candidate genes, the inventors were able to identify new candidates providing resistance in Arabidopsis and transferred their function to soybean (and named them CL-genes).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TABLES AND SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Table 1 shows the list of the candidates selected by the method described in Example 1-3.

Table 2 lists primer sequences for cloning of silencing constructs for Arabidopsis transformation.

Table 3 shows a compilation of nucleic acids and amino acids for the respective CL genes together with the corresponding sequence identifier.

FIG. 1 shows the results of the expression analysis of the CL-gene induction after inoculation with soybean rust as described in Example 4. FIG. 1a shows the result of confirmation of CL-gene induction in Arabidopsis pen2 mutant inoculated with soybean rust 2 days past inoculation (dpi). FIG. 1b shows the similar induction pattern of CL7 and GLP9 gene expression in Arabidopsis, Arabidopsis pen2 and the triple mutant pen2 pad4 sag101 (p2p4s101) inoculated with soybean rust 2 days past inoculation (dpi). Relative transcript abundance was analyzed by RT-qPCR. Actin2 (ACT2) was used for normalization of candidate gene expression. Mean values of three independent inoculations are shown. Similar to FIG. 1b the FIG. 1c shows the induction of gene expression of CL4, CL7 and CL22 in leaves of Arabidopsis wild type, pen2, and the triple mutant pen2 pad4 sag101 plants at two days after inoculation with P. pachyrhizi. RNA was extracted from treated leaves after 48 h and relative transcript abundance of A: CL4, B: CL7 and C: CL22 was analyzed by RT-qPCR. Actin2 (ACT2) was used for normalization of candidate gene expression. Mean values of three independent inoculations are shown.

FIG. 2 shows the scoring system used to determine the level of diseased leaf area of wildtype and transgenic soy plants against the rust fungus P. pachyrhizi.

FIG. 3 shows the result of the scoring of 23 transgenic soy plants expressing the CL7 overexpression vector construct. T0 soybean plants expressing CL7 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The evaluation of the diseased leaf area on all leaves was performed 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 23 soybean T0 plants expressing CL7 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. The average of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 3. Overexpression of CL7 significantly (p<0.01) reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 28%.

FIG. 4 shows the result of the scoring of 25 transgenic soy plants expressing the CL20 overexpression vector construct. T0 soybean plants expressing CL20 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The evaluation of the diseased leaf area on all leaves was performed 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 25 soybean T0 plants expressing CL20 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. The median of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 4. Overexpression of CL20 significantly (p<0.01) reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 38%.

FIG. 5 shows the result of the scoring of 29 transgenic soy plants expressing the CL21 overexpression vector construct. T0 soybean plants expressing CL21 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The evaluation of the diseased leaf area on all leaves was performed 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 29 soybean T0 plants expressing CL21 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. The median of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 5. Overexpression of CL21 significantly (p<0.05) reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 45%.

FIG. 6 shows the result of the scoring of 17 transgenic soy plants expressing the CL24 overexpression vector construct. T0 soybean plants expressing CL24 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The evaluation of the diseased leaf area on all leaves was performed 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 17 soybean T0 plants expressing CL24 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. The median of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 6. Overexpression of CL24 significantly (p<0.05) reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 35%.

FIG. 7 shows the result of the scoring of 44 transgenic soy plants from 5 independent transgenic events expressing the CL4 overexpression vector construct. T1 soybean plants expressing CL4 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The evaluation of the diseased leaf area on all leaves was performed 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 44 soybean T1 plants from 5 independent events expressing CL4 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. The median of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 7. Overexpression of CL4 significantly (p<0.01) reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 28.5%.

FIG. 8 shows the result of the scoring of 24 transgenic soy T0 plants expressing the CL13 overexpression vector construct. T0 soybean plants expressing CL13 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The evaluation of the diseased leaf area on all leaves was performed 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 24 soybean T0 plants expressing CL13 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. The median of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 8. Overexpression of CL13 significantly (p<0.01) reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 40%.

FIG. 9 shows the result of the scoring of 28 transgenic soy T0 plants from 11 independent transgenic events expressing the GLP9 overexpression vector construct. T0 soybean plants expressing GLP9 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The evaluation of the diseased leaf area on all leaves was performed 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 28 soybean T0 plants from 11 independent events expressing GLP9 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. The median of the diseased leaf area of 11 independent events is shown in FIG. 9. Overexpression of GLP9 reduces the median of the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 20.2%.

FIG. 10 shows the result of the scoring of 26 transgenic soy T0 plants, derived from 10 independent events expressing the CL22 overexpression vector construct. T0 soybean plants expressing CL22 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The evaluation of the diseased leaf area on all leaves was performed 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 26 soybean T0 plants expressing CL22 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. The median of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 10. Overexpression of CL22 significantly (p<0.01) reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 40%.

FIG. 11 shows the reduction of resistance by candidate gene inactivation in selected Arabidopsis dsRNAi lines. Leaves of Arabidopsis pen2 (control) and CL gene dsRNAi transgenic lines (all in gl1 mutant background) were inoculated with Phakopsora pachyrhizi and harvested at 2 dpi for determination of candidate gene expression and microscopic analysis of resistance. Average frequency of haustoria formation (A) and average expression of candidate gene (B) in inoculated leaves is shown for several dsRNAi lines relative to pen2 control plants. Mean values were calculated only from those dsRNAi lines that showed a severe reduction (more than 50%) in candidate gene abundance. Knock-down of CL4, CL7, CL15, CL16, CL22 and CL23 lead to an increased susceptibility in Arabidopsis pen2, indicating for an involvement of these genes in resistance against soybean rust.

FIG. 12 shows the description of the sequence listing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As described above and further explained by the examples hereinafter, it has now been found that proteins encoded by the nucleic acids of the invention are able to confer improved resistance to plant cells and plants against infections by a fungal pathogen, preferably against infections by a pathogen of the class Basidiomycota, preferably of order Uredinales, more preferably of family Phakopsoraceae, even more preferably against soybean rust, even more preferably of genus Phacopsora, most preferably of species Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and/or Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur).

The nucleic acids of the present invention can confer such resistance to plant cells and plants that are, in their corresponding wild type, prone to or not resistant to such infections. Susceptibility of infection is determined by exposing a plant to the respective fungal pathogen, allowing time for the pathogen to infect the plant, and determine if the plant leaves show signs of infection, e.g. discoloured or wrinkled areas.

The present invention is thus directed to CL nucleic acids and the use of a CL nucleic acid for enhancing fungal resistance in a plant. Preferably the CL nucleic acid is an isolated nucleic acid molecule consisting of or comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) a nucleic acid having in increasing order of preference at least     40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at     least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%,     at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%, at least     72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at     least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%,     at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%, at least     86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at     least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%,     at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100%     sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID     NO: 3, 4, 35, 33, 7, 49, 50, 47, 53, 25, 41, 29, 23, 55, 1, 21, 31,     27, 9, 57, 17, 19, 37, 11, 12, 13, 39, 43, 45 or 59, preferably SEQ     ID NO: 1, 7, 11, 12, 13, or 59, or a functional fragment,     derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; -   (ii) a nucleic acid encoding a CL protein having in increasing order     of preference at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least     61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at     least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%,     at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least     75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at     least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%,     at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least     89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at     least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%,     at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence     represented by SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42,     30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44,     46 or 60, preferably SEQ ID NO: 2, 8, 14, 15, 16, or 60, or a     functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof;     preferably the CL protein has essentially the same biological     activity as a CL protein encoded by SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 35, 33, 7, 49,     50, 47, 53, 25, 41, 29, 23, 55, 1, 21, 31, 27, 9, 57, 17, 19, 37,     11, 12, 13, 39, 43, 45 or 59, preferably the CL protein confers     enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants; -   (iii) a nucleic acid encoding the same CL protein as the CL nucleic     acids of (i) or (ii) above, but differing from the CL nucleic acids     of (i) or (ii) above due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

Percentages of identity of a nucleic acid are indicated with reference to the entire nucleotide region given in a sequence specifically disclosed herein.

The CL nucleic acids described herein are useful in the constructs, methods, plants, harvestable parts and products of the invention.

Another embodiment of the present invention are CL polypeptides. Preferably, the CL polypeptide is a polypeptide consisting of or comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   (i) an amino acid sequence having in increasing order of preference     at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 61%, at least     62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at     least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%,     at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least 75%, at least     76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least 80%, at     least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least 85%,     at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least     90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at     least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or     100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ     ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22,     32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60, preferably     SEQ ID NO: 2, 8, 14, 15, 16, or 60; or a functional fragment,     derivative, orthologue, or paralogue thereof; preferably the CL     protein has essentially the same biological activity as a CL protein     encoded by SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 35, 33, 7, 49, 50, 47, 53, 25, 41, 29,     23, 55, 1, 21, 31, 27, 9, 57, 17, 19, 37, 11, 12, 13, 39, 43, 45 or     59; preferably the CL protein confers enhanced fungal resistance     relative to control plants; or -   (ii) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid having in     increasing order of preference at least 40%, at least 50%, at least     60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at     least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%,     at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least     74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at     least 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%,     at least 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least     88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at     least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%,     at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the nucleic     acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 35, 33, 7, 49, 50, 47,     53, 25, 41, 29, 23, 55, 1, 21, 31, 27, 9, 57, 17, 19, 37, 11, 12,     13, 39, 43, 45 or 59, preferably SEQ ID NO: 1, 7, 11, 12, 13, or 59,     or a functional fragment, derivative, orthologue, or paralogue     thereof; preferably the CL protein confers enhanced fungal     resistance relative to control plants.

Preferably, the CL protein consists of or comprises an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60 with one or more conservative amino acid substitutions of the corresponding amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60. Preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 1-10, 10-20, 20-30, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100-110, 110-120, or 120-130 amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60 are conservative amino acid substitutions of the corresponding amino acid residue of SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60.

More preferably, the CL protein consists of or comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60, wherein at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 21, at least 22, at least 23, at least 24, at least 25, at least 26, at least 27, at least 28, at least 29, or at least 30 of the non-identical amino acid residues, or wherein 1-10, 10-20, 20-30, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90 or 90-100 or even all of the non-identical amino acid residues are conservative amino acid substitutions of the corresponding amino acid residue of SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60.

Percentages of identity of a polypeptide or protein are indicated with reference to the entire amino acid sequence specifically disclosed herein.

The terms “protein” and “polypeptide” are used herein interchangeably.

The CL proteins described herein are useful in the constructs, methods, plants, harvestable parts and products of the invention.

According to the invention there is thus provided a plant cell comprising, as a heterologous nucleic acid, a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of

-   a) nucleic acids comprising any of the nucleic acid sequences SEQ ID     NO: 3, 4, 35, 33, 7, 49, 50, 47, 53, 25, 41, 29, 23, 55, 1, 21, 31,     27, 9, 57, 17, 19, 37, 11, 12, 13, 39, 43, 45 or 59, -   b) nucleic acids coding for a polypeptide comprising any of the     amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26,     42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40,     44, 46 or 60, and -   c) nucleic acids coding for a polypeptide having an amino acid     sequence identity of at least 40% to any of the amino acid sequences     SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2,     22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60.

According to the invention, the plant cells comprise the above nucleic acids as heterologous nucleic acids. That is to say that any of the following criteria are met:

-   a) The nucleic acids are not part of the genome of the corresponding     wild type plant, or -   b) the nucleic acids are not expressed in the genome of the     corresponding wild type plant, e.g. susceptibility of the wild type     plant to fungal infections does not differ from the susceptibility     of a corresponding knockout plant, or -   c) the copy number of the nucleic acids in functional form, i.e.     that can be expressed by the plant cell, is higher in the plant     cells according to the present invention compared to the     corresponding wild type plant, or -   d) the nucleic acid is under the control of a transcription     regulating element which allows to increase transcription of the     nucleic acid.

Preferably, the criteria a) and/or b) apply; most preferably criterium a) applies. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “wild type plant” refers to the plant community to which the plant transformed according to the present invention originally belonged to.

The nucleic acids of subgroup c) preferably are similar to the nucleic acids of subgroup a) and/or b). That is, they code for a polypeptide the amino acid sequence of which has a degree of identity of at least 40% to one or more of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60.

Such sequences can differ from the sequences of SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 35, 33, 7, 49, 50, 47, 53, 25, 41, 29, 23, 55, 1, 21, 31, 27, 9, 57, 17, 19, 37, 11, 12, 13, 39, 43, 45 or 59. For example, the nucleic acids may code for a protein consisting of any of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60 but differ from the corresponding nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 35, 33, 7, 49, 50, 47, 53, 25, 41, 29, 23, 55, 1, 21, 31, 27, 9, 57, 17, 19, 37, 11, 12, 13, 39, 43, 45 or 59 due to the degeneration of the genetic code, i.e. by exchanging a codon for another codon coding for the same amino acid. Such exchange may for example allow to optimize the nucleic acid according to the codon preference of the respective plant cell or plant, thereby allowing an improvement of expression of the respective gene.

For Glycine max, the codon preference inherent in the plant cells is as follows (the most preferred codon per amino acid is marked by an asterisk):

Frequency Frequency Frequency Frequency [per [per [per [per Codon thousand] [number] Codon thousand] [number] Codon thousand] [number] Codon thousand] [number] UUU 21.2* (10493) UCU 18.4* (9107) UAU 15.7*  (7779) UGU 8.1* (3995) UUC 21.2 (10487) UCC 12.9 (6409) UAC 14.9  (7367) UGC 8.0 (3980) UUA 9.2  (4545) UCA 15.6 (7712) UAA 0.9  (463) UGA 1.0  (480) UUG 22.9 (11340) UCG 4.8 (2397) UAG 0.5  (263) UGG 13.0* (6412) CUU 23.9* (11829) CCU 18.9 (9358) CAU 14.0*  (6930) CGU 6.6 (3291) CUC 17.1  (8479) CCC 10.1 (5010) CAC 11.6  (5759) CGC 6.2 (3093) CUA 8.5  (4216) CCA 19.1* (9461) CAA 20.5* (10162) CGA 4.1 (2018) CUG 12.7  (6304) CCG 4.7 (2312) CAG 16.2  (8038) CGG 3.1 (1510) AUU 25.1* (12411) ACU 17.1* (8490) AAU 22.4 (11088) AGU 12.6 (6237) AUC 16.3  (8071) ACC 14.3 (7100) AAC 22.8* (11284) AGC 11.3 (5594) AUA 12.9  (6386) ACA 14.9 (7391) AAA 26.9 (13334) AGA 14.8* (7337) AUG 22.7* (11218) ACG 4.3 (2147) AAG 35.9* (17797) AGG 13.3 (6574) GUU 26.1* (12911) GCU 26.7* (13201)  GAU 32.4* (16040) GGU 20.9 (10353)  GUC 11.9  (5894) GCC 16.2 (8026) GAC 20.4 (10097) GGC 13.4 (6650) GUA 7.7  (3803) GCA 21.4 (10577)  GAA 33.2* (16438) GGA 22.3* (11022)  GUG 21.4 (10610) GCG 6.3 (3123) GAG 33.2 (16426) GGG 13.0 (6431)

Sequences of the present invention can also differ from the corresponding wildtype sequences (preferably, sequences of sub-group c) can also differ from the sequences of sub-groups a) and b)) by coding for a protein mutated by one or more acceptable point mutations. For example, the following amino acid substitutions (indicated by an asterisk) are considered acceptable point mutations according to the present invention:

A R N D C Q E G H I L K M F P S T W Y A R — N — — D — — * C — — — — Q — * * * — E — — * * — * G * — — * — — — H — * * * — * * — I — — — — — — — — — L — — — — — — — — — * K — * * — — * — — — — — M — — — — — — — — — * * — F — — — — — — — — — * * — — P * — — — — — — — — — — — — — S * — * — — — — * — — — — — — * T * — — — — — — — — — — — — — — * W — * — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Y — — — — — — — — — — — — — * — — — — V — — — — — — — — — * * — * — — — — — —

Preferably, the degree of identity is even higher, e.g. 48%, 58%, 68%, 74%, 78%, 84%, 88%, 90%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%. Good protection against infection by fungal pathogens can be achieved when the nucleic acid codes for a protein the amino acid of which is any of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60.

According to the invention, identity of amino acid sequences and nucleic acid sequences, respectively, is determined using a global alignment algorithm, such as the Needleman Wunsch algorithm in the program GAP (GCG Wisconsin Package, Accelrys), preferably with default parameters and preferably with sequences of mature proteins (i.e. without taking into account secretion signals or transit peptides).

The nucleic acids advantageously are expressed in the plant cell of the present invention. The term “expression” or “gene expression” means the transcription of a specific gene or specific genes or specific genetic construct, particularly of any of the sequences of SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 35, 33, 7, 49, 50, 47, 53, 25, 41, 29, 23, 55, 1, 21, 31, 27, 9, 57, 17, 19, 37, 11, 12, 13, 39, 43, 45 or 59. The term “expression” or “gene expression” in particular means the transcription of a gene or genes or genetic construct into structural RNA (rRNA, tRNA) or mRNA with or without subsequent translation of the latter into a protein. The process includes transcription of DNA and processing of the resulting mRNA product. The term “increased expression” or “overexpression” as used herein means any form of expression that is additional to the original wild-type expression level. For the purposes of this invention, the original wild-type expression level might also be zero, i.e. absence of expression or immeasurable expression.

To allow for expression of the nucleic acid of the present invention, the nucleic acid preferably is under the control of a transcription modifying element.

The invention correspondingly provides a plant cell comprising, as a heterologous polypeptide, a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of

-   a) polypeptides having any of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5,     6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10,     58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60, and -   b) polypeptides having an amino acid sequence identity of at least     40% to any of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8,     51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20,     38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60.

Again, a protein or polypeptide is considered heterologous if any of the following criteria apply:

-   a) The protein is not part of the proteome of the corresponding wild     type plant, or -   b) the protein is not expressed in the corresponding wild type     plant, or -   c) the protein expression in the plant cell according to the present     invention is higher than compared to the corresponding wild type     plant.

Preferably, the criteria a) and/or b) apply; most preferably criterium a) applies.

The polypeptides allow to confer, modify or increase resistance of the plant cell against infection by fungal pathogens, preferably against infections by a pathogen of the class Basidiomycota, preferably of order Uredinales, more preferably of family Phakopsoraceae, even more preferably against soybean rust, even more preferably of genus Phacopsora, most preferably of species Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and/or Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur).

As described above for nucleic acids, the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide in the plant cell of the present invention may differ from the amino acid given for sub-group a). That is to say, the plant cell of the present invention can according to sub-group b) comprise a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence identity of at least 40% to any of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60. Also as described above, the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide may differ from any of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60 by one or more acceptable point mutations.

Preferably, the degree of identity is higher than 40%, e.g. 48%, 58%, 68%, 74%, 78%, 84%, 88%, 90%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%.

The invention also provides a vector, preferably an expression vector, comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of

-   a) nucleic acids comprising any of the nucleic acid sequences SEQ ID     NO: 3, 4, 35, 33, 7, 49, 50, 47, 53, 25, 41, 29, 23, 55, 1, 21, 31,     27, 9, 57, 17, 19, 37, 11, 12, 13, 39, 43, 45 or 59, -   b) nucleic acids coding for a polypeptide comprising any of the     amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26,     42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40,     44, 46 or 60, and -   c) nucleic acids coding for a polypeptide having an amino acid     sequence identity of at least 40% to any of the amino acid sequences     SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2,     22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60.

Such vectors allow to transfer easily the nucleic acid into a plant of interest. Useful methods of plant transformations are known to the skilled person, e.g. transformation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

The term “introduction” or “transformation” as referred to herein encompasses the transfer of an exogenous polynucleotide into a host cell, irrespective of the method used for transfer. Plant tissue capable of subsequent clonal propagation, whether by organogenesis or embryogenesis, may be transformed with a genetic construct of the present invention and a whole plant regenerated there from. The particular tissue chosen will vary depending on the clonal propagation systems available for, and best suited to, the particular species being transformed. Exemplary tissue targets include leaf disks, pollen, embryos, cotyledons, by pocotyls, megagametophytes, callus tissue, existing meristematic tissue (e.g., apical meristem, axillary buds, and root meristems), and induced meristem tissue (e.g., cotyledon meristem and hypocotyl meristem). The polynucleotide may be transiently or stably introduced into a host cell and may be maintained non-integrated, for example, as a plasmid. Alternatively, it may be integrated into the host genome. The resulting transformed plant cell may then be used to regenerate a transformed plant in a manner known to persons skilled in the art.

The transfer of foreign genes into the genome of a plant is called transformation. Transformation of plant species is now a fairly routine technique. Advantageously, any of several transformation methods may be used to introduce the gene of interest into a suitable ancestor cell. The methods described for the transformation and regeneration of plants from plant tissues or plant cells may be utilized for transient or for stable transformation. Transformation methods include the use of liposomes, electroporation, chemicals that increase free DNA uptake, injection of the DNA directly into the plant, particle gun bombardment, transformation using viruses or pollen and microprojection. Methods may be selected from the calcium/polyethylene glycol method for protoplasts (Krens, F. A. et al., (1982) Nature 296, 72-74; Negrutiu I et al. (1987) Plant Mol Biol 8: 363-373); electroporation of protoplasts (Shillito R. D. et al. (1985) Bio/Technol 3, 1099-1102); microinjection into plant material (Crossway A et al., (1986) Mol. Gen Genet 202: 179-185); DNA or RNA-coated particle bombardment (Klein T M et al., (1987) Nature 327: 70) infection with (non-integrative) viruses and the like. Transgenic plants, including transgenic crop plants, are preferably produced via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. An advantageous transformation method is the transformation in planta. To this end, it is possible, for example, to allow the agrobacteria to act on plant seeds or to inoculate the plant meristem with agrobacteria. It has proved particularly expedient in accordance with the invention to allow a suspension of transformed agrobacteria to act on the intact plant or at least on the flower primordia. The plant is subsequently grown on until the seeds of the treated plant are obtained (Clough and Bent, Plant J. (1998) 16, 735-743). Methods for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of rice include well known methods for rice transformation, such as those described in any of the following: European patent application EP 1198985 A1, Aldemita and Hodges (Planta 199: 612-617, 1996); Chan et al. (Plant Mol Biol 22 (3): 491-506, 1993), Hiei et al. (Plant J 6 (2): 271-282, 1994), which disclosures are incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth. In the case of corn transformation, the preferred method is as described in either Ishida et al. (Nat. Biotechnol 14(6): 745-50, 1996) or Frame et al. (Plant Physiol 129(1): 13-22, 2002), which disclosures are incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth. Said methods are further described by way of example in B. Jenes et al., Techniques for Gene Transfer, in: Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, eds. S. D. Kung and R. Wu, Academic Press (1993) 128-143 and in Potrykus Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Molec. Biol. 42 (1991) 205-225). The nucleic acids or the construct to be expressed is preferably cloned into a vector, which is suitable for transforming Agrobacterium tumefaciens, for example pBin19 (Bevan et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 12 (1984) 8711). Agrobacteria transformed by such a vector can then be used in known manner for the transformation of plants, such as plants used as a model, like Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana is within the scope of the present invention not considered as a crop plant), or crop plants such as, by way of example, tobacco plants, for example by immersing bruised leaves or chopped leaves in an agrobacterial solution and then culturing them in suitable media. The transformation of plants by means of Agrobacterium tumefaciens is described, for example, by Höfgen and Willmitzer in Nucl. Acid Res. (1988) 16, 9877 or is known inter alia from F. F. White, Vectors for Gene Transfer in Higher Plants; in Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, eds. S. D. Kung and R. Wu, Academic Press, 1993, pp. 15-38.

In addition to the transformation of somatic cells, which then have to be regenerated into intact plants, it is also possible to transform the cells of plant meristems and in particular those cells which develop into gametes. In this case, the transformed gametes follow the natural plant development, giving rise to transgenic plants. Thus, for example, seeds of Arabidopsis are treated with agrobacteria and seeds are obtained from the developing plants of which a certain proportion is transformed and thus transgenic [Feldman, K A and Marks M D (1987). Mol Gen Genet 208:1-9; Feldmann K (1992). In: C Koncz, N-H Chua and J Shell, eds, Methods in Arabidopsis Research. Word Scientific, Singapore, pp. 274-289]. Alternative methods are based on the repeated removal of the inflorescences and incubation of the excision site in the center of the rosette with transformed agrobacteria, whereby transformed seeds can likewise be obtained at a later point in time (Chang (1994). Plant J. 5: 551-558; Katavic (1994). Mol Gen Genet, 245: 363-370). However, an especially effective method is the vacuum infiltration method with its modifications such as the “floral dip” method. In the case of vacuum infiltration of Arabidopsis, intact plants under reduced pressure are treated with an agrobacterial suspension [Bechthold, N (1993). C R Acad Sci Paris Life Sci, 316: 1194-1199], while in the case of the “floral dip” method the developing floral tissue is incubated briefly with a surfactant-treated agrobacterial suspension [Clough, S J and Bent A F (1998) The Plant J. 16, 735-743]. A certain proportion of transgenic seeds are harvested in both cases, and these seeds can be distinguished from non-transgenic seeds by growing under the above-described selective conditions. In addition the stable transformation of plastids is of advantages because plastids are inherited maternally is most crops reducing or eliminating the risk of transgene flow through pollen. The transformation of the chloroplast genome is generally achieved by a process which has been schematically displayed in Klaus et al., 2004 [Nature Biotechnology 22 (2), 225-229]. Briefly the sequences to be transformed are cloned together with a selectable marker gene between flanking sequences homologous to the chloroplast genome. These homologous flanking sequences direct site specific integration into the plastome. Plastidal transformation has been described for many different plant species and an overview is given in Bock (2001) Transgenic plastids in basic research and plant biotechnology. J Mol Biol. 2001 Sep. 21; 312 (3):425-38 or Maliga, P (2003) Progress towards commercialization of plastid transformation technology. Trends Biotechnol. 21, 20-28. Further biotechnological progress has recently been reported in form of marker free plastid transformants, which can be produced by a transient co-integrated maker gene (Klaus et al., 2004, Nature Biotechnology 22(2), 225-229). The genetically modified plant cells can be regenerated via all methods with which the skilled worker is familiar. Suitable methods can be found in the abovementioned publications by S. D. Kung and R. Wu, Potrykus or Höfgen and Willmitzer.

With respect to soybean transformation, methods are known which are based on somatic embryogenesis: Embryos are induced from immature soybean cotyledons by placing the explant on high levels of 2,4-D (40 mg/L) and the embryogenic tissues are subsequently proliferated on induction medium (Finer (1988) Plant Cell Rep 7:238-241) or liquid suspension culture (Finer and Nagasawa (1988) Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 15:125-136).

Hinchee et al. describes the production of transgenic soybean plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The production of transgenic plants is based on a regeneration protocol in which shoot organogenesis is induced on cotyledons of soybeans (see Hinchee et al. (1988) Nature Biotechnology, 6:915-922).

Also known are methods based on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of zygotic immature cotyledons (Parrott et al. (1989) Plant Cell Rep 7:615-617; Yan et al. (2000) Plant Cell Rep 19:1090-1097; Ko et al. (2003) Theor Appl Genet. 107:439-447). However, in Parrott et al. the three plants produced were chimeric, from a multicellular origin, and did not transmit the transgene to the next generation. Yan et al. (2000) Plant Cell Rep 19:1090-1097 reported a low transformation frequency of 0.03%. The plant produced transmitted the transgene into the next generation, presumably due to the continuous selection of transformed primary embryos for the production of secondary embryos thereby resulting in non-chimeric plants. Recently, Ko et al. (2003) Theor Appl Genet. 107:439-447 has reported the recovery of transgenic plants at 1.7% transformation frequencies, however, the method relies on using a partially disarmed (oncogenic) Agrobacterium strain, pKYRT, with a functional TR-DNA sequence in order to stimulate embryogenesis (Ko et al. (2004) Planta 218:536-541). These methods use the immature cotyledons as the target tissue with subsequent proliferation and selection on solid medium.

US2009/0049567 discloses Agrobacterium-mediated soybean transformation utilizing meristematic cells of primary or higher leaf nodes as target tissues and subsequent regeneration of the transformed cells into a whole plant.

Further beneficial transformation methods are described in European patent application EP11175038.6 and U.S. patent application 61/510,513, both filed on 22 Jul. 2011 and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Generally after transformation, plant cells or cell groupings are selected for the presence of one or more markers which are encoded by plant-expressible genes co-transferred with the gene of interest, following which the transformed material is regenerated into a whole plant. To select transformed plants, the plant material obtained in the transformation is, as a rule, subjected to selective conditions so that transformed plants can be distinguished from untransformed plants. For example, the seeds obtained in the above-described manner can be planted and, after an initial growing period, subjected to a suitable selection by spraying. A further possibility consists in growing the seeds, if appropriate after sterilization, on agar plates using a suitable selection agent so that only the transformed seeds can grow into plants. Alternatively, the transformed plants are screened for the presence of a selectable marker such as the ones described above.

Following DNA transfer and regeneration, putatively transformed plants may also be evaluated, for instance using Southern analysis, for the presence of the gene of interest, copy number and/or genomic organisation. Alternatively or additionally, expression levels of the newly introduced DNA may be monitored using Northern and/or Western analysis, both techniques being well known to persons having ordinary skill in the art.

The generated transformed plants may be propagated by a variety of means, such as by clonal propagation or classical breeding techniques. For example, a first generation (or T1) transformed plant may be selfed and homozygous second-generation (or T2) transformants selected, and the T2 plants may then further be propagated through classical breeding techniques. The generated transformed organisms may take a variety of forms. For example, they may be chimeras of transformed cells and non-transformed cells; clonal transformants (e.g., all cells transformed to contain the expression cassette); grafts of transformed and untransformed tissues (e.g., in plants, a transformed rootstock grafted to an untransformed scion).

Also provided is a host cell comprising the vector, preferably the expression vector, of the present invention. Such host cell allows to reproduce or multiply the vector of the present invention, and/or to transform a plant or plant cell. Useful host cells according to the present invention preferably are Escherichia coli and Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

The plant cell according to the present invention preferably is a cell taxonomically belonging to a crop plant species. Particularly preferred are cells of dicotyledon plants, preferably of family Fabaceae, more preferably of tribe Phaseoleae, even more preferably of genus Glycine, e.g. Glycine soja, Soja hispida, Soja max and Glycine max, and most preferably of Glycine max. Such plants are agriculturally important and suffer, as described above, from fungal pathogen infections.

The invention also provides a plant comprising, consisting essentially of or consisting of one or more plant cells of the present invention. This way, resistance of the plant as a whole against infections by fungal pathogens, preferably against infections by a pathogen of the class Basidiomycota, preferably of order Uredinales, more preferably of family Phakopsoraceae, even more preferably against soybean rust, even more preferably of genus Phacopsora, most preferably of species Phakopsora pachyrhizi (Sydow) and/or Phakopsora meibomiae (Arthur), can be improved compared to the wild type. As indicated above, the plant preferably is a dicotyledon plant, preferably of the family Fabaceae, more preferably of the tribe Phaseoleae, even more preferably of the genus Glycine, e.g. Glycine soja, Soja hispida, Soja max and Glycine max, and most preferably of Glycine max.

The invention thus provides a plant, preferably a crop plant as described above, exhibiting increased or modified resistance as compared to a wild type plant against infections by a fungus of the class Basidiomycota, preferably of the order Uredinales, more preferably of the family Phakopsoraceae, even more preferably of the genus Phacopsora, most preferably of the species Phakopsora pachyrhizi and/or Phakopsora meibomiae, wherein said plant

-   i) comprises, consists essentially of or consists of a plant cell as     described above; and/or -   ii) comprises a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of     -   a) nucleic acids comprising any of the nucleic acid sequences         SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 35, 33, 7, 49, 50, 47, 53, 25, 41, 29, 23, 55,         1, 21, 31, 27, 9, 57, 17, 19, 37, 11, 12, 13, 39, 43, 45 or 59,     -   b) nucleic acids coding for a polypeptide comprising any of the         amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54,         26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15,         16, 40, 44, 46 or 60, and     -   c) nucleic acids coding for a polypeptide having an amino acid         sequence identity of at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%,         at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least         85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% to         any of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51,         52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20,         38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60; and/or -   iii) comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of     -   a) polypeptides having any of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID         NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22,         32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60, and     -   b) polypeptides having an amino acid sequence identity of at         least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least         70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at         least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% to any of the amino acid         sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42,         30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40,         44, 46 or 60,     -   and wherein said polypeptide is heterologous to said plant.

As described herein, the nucleic acid(s) can be constitutively or temporarily expressed to produce the polypeptide(s) in the plant or plant cells. Where the nucleic acid(s) is/are constitutively expressed the respective plant or plant cells permanently comprises a level of the corresponding polypeptide and is thus exhibits permanently increased or modified resistance against infection by the pathogen. However, expression of the nucleic acid or nucleic acids can also be regulated such that expression is induced or repressed in predefined conditions. For example, the nucleic acid(s) can be inducibly expressed after application of an inductor to the plant or plant cells. Such inductor can be an artificial agent like IPTG, or can be a constituent of the infecting fungus. This way, production of the corresponding polypeptide or polypeptides can be started or increased in the plant or plant cell in the imminent danger of fungal infection, thereby saving resources when there is no imminent danger of infection. Also, expression can be limited to defined growth stages or organs of the plant, further saving resources of the plant.

The invention also provides a method for creating a plant, preferably a crop plant, particularly preferably a dicotyledon plant, preferably of the family Fabaceae, more preferably of the tribe Phaseoleae, even more preferably of the genus Glycine, e.g. Glycine soja, Soja hispida, Soja max and Glycine max, and most preferably of Glycine max, exhibiting increased or modified resistance as compared to a wild type plant against infections by a fungus of the class Basidiomycota, preferably of the order Uredinales, more preferably of the family Phakopsoraceae, even more preferably of the genus Phacopsora, most preferably of the species Phakopsora pachyrhizi and/or Phakopsora meibomiae, wherein the method comprises the steps of

-   i) introducing a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of     -   a) a nucleic acid comprising any of the nucleic acid sequences         SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 35, 33, 7, 49, 50, 47, 53, 25, 41, 29, 23, 55,         1, 21, 31, 27, 9, 57, 17, 19, 37, 11, 12, 13, 39, 43, 45 or 59,     -   b) a nucleic acid coding for a polypeptide comprising any of the         amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54,         26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15,         16, 40, 44, 46 or 60, and     -   c) a nucleic acid coding for a polypeptide having an amino acid         sequence identity of at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%,         at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least         85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% to         any of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51,         52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20,         38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60 into a plant cell, and -   ii) growing a plant from said plant cell.

The method facilitates the production of plants having modified or increased resistance against infection by the above mentioned pathogen.

The invention also provides a method for creating a plant exhibiting increased or modified resistance as compared to a wild type plant against infections by a fungus of the class Basidiomycota, preferably of order Uredinales, more preferably of family Phakopsoraceae, even more preferably of genus Phacopsora, most preferably of species Phakopsora pachyrhizi and/or Phakopsora meibomiae, wherein the method comprises the step of reproducing a plant obtainable or obtained by the method as described above. Reproduction can be by means of seed generation or by artificial reproduction, e.g. using callus cultures.

Thus, the invention also provides a seed of a plant of the present invention. Such seeds beneficially allow to grow plants e.g. on a field having increased or modified resistance as compared to a wild type plant against infections by a fungus of the class Basidiomycota, preferably of order Uredinales, more preferably of family Phakopsoraceae, even more preferably of genus Phacopsora, most preferably of species Phakopsora pachyrhizi and/or Phakopsora meibomiae. Also corresponding to the above description, the seed preferably is a seed of a preferably a crop plant, particularly preferably a dicotyledon plant, preferably of family Fabaceae, more preferably of tribe Phaseoleae, even more preferably of genus Glycine, e.g. Glycine soja, Soja hispida, Soja max and Glycine max, and most preferably of Glycine max.

The invention also provides a method of conferring, increasing or modifying, in a plant, resistance as compared to a wild type plant against infections by a fungus of the class Basidiomycota, preferably of the order Uredinales, more preferably of the family Phakopsoraceae, even more preferably of the genus Phacopsora, most preferably of the species Phakopsora pachyrhizi and/or Phakopsora meibomiae, wherein the method comprises the step of

-   i) inducing or increasing expression of a polypeptide selected from     the group consisting of     -   a) polypeptides having any of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID         NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22,         32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60, and     -   b) polypeptides having an amino acid sequence identity of at         least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least         70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at         least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% to any of the amino acid         sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42,         30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40,         44, 46 or 60, and     -   c) homologs of the polypeptides having any of the amino acid         sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42,         30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40,         44, 46 or 60.

By inducing the expression of the polypeptide, preferably by inducing the expression using a nucleic acid as described above, production of the corresponding polypeptide or polypeptides can be started or increased in the plant or plant cell in the imminent danger of fungal infection, thereby saving resources when there is no imminent danger of infection. Also, expression can be limited to defined growth stages or organs of the plant, further saving resources of the plant.

In view of the present invention, “induction” or “inducing” is understood to comprise both the increase of a previously lower level of expression, and the commencement of previously not detectable expression.

In the above method, expression of homologs of the polypeptides having any of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48, 54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14, 15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60 can be induced. A polypeptide is considered to be a homolog if its pattern of expression resembles that of one or more of the aforementioned polypeptides. Such expression pattern can be determined as described in the examples. Also, homologs can be found in databases, e.g. in the HomoloGene database maintained at the US National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The term “homolog” therefor includes orthologs and paralogs.

Harvestable parts of the transgenic plant according to the present invention are part of the invention. Preferably, the harvestable parts comprise the CL nucleic acid or CL protein. The harvestable parts may be seeds, roots, leaves and/or flowers comprising the CL nucleic acid or CL protein or parts thereof. Preferred parts of soy plants are soy beans comprising the CL nucleic acid or CL protein.

Products derived from a transgenic plant according to the present invention, parts thereof or harvestable parts thereof are part of the invention. A preferred product is meal or oil, preferably, soybean meal or soybean oil. Preferably, the soybean meal and/or oil comprises the CL nucleic acid or CL protein.

One embodiment is a method for the production of a product comprises

-   a) growing the plants of the invention or obtainable by the methods     of the invention and -   b) producing said product from or by the plants of the invention     and/or parts, e.g. seeds, of these plants.

In a further embodiment the method comprises the steps a) growing the plants of the invention, b) removing the harvestable parts as defined above from the plants and c) producing said product from or by the harvestable parts of the invention.

The product may be produced at the site where the plant has been grown, the plants and/or parts thereof may be removed from the site where the plants have been grown to produce the product. Typically, the plant is grown, the desired harvestable parts are removed from the plant, if feasible in repeated cycles, and the product made from the harvestable parts of the plant. The step of growing the plant may be performed only once each time the methods of the invention is performed, while allowing repeated times the steps of product production e.g. by repeated removal of harvestable parts of the plants of the invention and if necessary further processing of these parts to arrive at the product. It is also possible that the step of growing the plants of the invention is repeated and plants or harvestable parts are stored until the production of the product is then performed once for the accumulated plants or plant parts. Also, the steps of growing the plants and producing the product may be performed with an overlap in time, even simultaneously to a large extend or sequentially. Generally the plants are grown for some time before the product is produced.

In one embodiment the products produced by said methods of the invention are plant products such as, but not limited to, a foodstuff, feedstuff, a food supplement, feed supplement, fiber, cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical. Foodstuffs are regarded as compositions used for nutrition and/or for supplementing nutrition. Animal feedstuffs and animal feed supplements, in particular, are regarded as foodstuffs.

In another embodiment the inventive methods for the production are used to make agricultural products such as, but not limited to, plant extracts, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, oils, polymers, vitamins, and the like.

It is possible that a plant product consists of one or more agricultural products to a large extent.

The transgenic plants of the invention may be crossed with similar transgenic plants or with transgenic plants lacking the nucleic acids of the invention or with non-transgenic plants, using known methods of plant breeding, to prepare seeds. Further, the transgenic plant cells or plants of the present invention may comprise, and/or be crossed to another transgenic plant that comprises one or more exogenous nucleic acids, thus creating a “stack” of transgenes in the plant and/or its progeny. The seed is then planted to obtain a crossed fertile transgenic plant comprising the CL nucleic acid. The crossed fertile transgenic plant may have the particular expression cassette inherited through a female parent or through a male parent. The second plant may be an inbred plant. The crossed fertile transgenic may be a hybrid. Also included within the present invention are seeds of any of these crossed fertile transgenic plants. The seeds of this invention can be harvested from fertile transgenic plants and be used to grow progeny generations of transformed plants of this invention including hybrid plant lines comprising the exogenous nucleic acid.

Thus, one embodiment of the present invention is a method for breeding a fungal resistant plant comprising the steps of

-   (a) crossing a transgenic plant described herein or a plant     obtainable by a method described herein with a second plant; -   (b) obtaining a seed or seeds resulting from the crossing step     described in (a); -   (c) planting said seed or seeds and growing the seed or seeds to     plants; and -   (d) selecting from said plants the plants expressing a CL protein,     preferably encoded by     -   (i) a heterologous nucleic acid having at least 40% identity         with SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 35, 33, 7, 49, 50, 47, 53, 25, 41, 29, 23,         55, 1, 21, 31, 27, 9, 57, 17, 19, 37, 11, 12, 13, 39, 43, 45 or         59, a functional fragment thereof, an orthologue or a paralogue         thereof, or a splice variant thereof;     -   (ii) a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at         least 40% identity with SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48,         54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14,         15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60, or a functional fragment thereof, an         orthologue or a paralogue thereof; preferably the encoded         protein confers enhanced fungal resistance relative to control         plants;     -   (iii) a heterologous nucleic acid capable of hybridizing under         stringent conditions with a complementary sequence of any of the         nucleic acids according to (i) or (ii); preferably encoding a CL         protein; preferably wherein the nucleic acid molecule codes for         a polypeptide which has essentially identical properties to the         polypeptide described in SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 36, 34, 8, 51, 52, 48,         54, 26, 42, 30, 24, 56, 2, 22, 32, 28, 10, 58, 18, 20, 38, 14,         15, 16, 40, 44, 46 or 60; preferably the encoded protein confers         enhanced fungal resistance relative to control plants; and/or by     -   (iv) a heterologous nucleic acid encoding the same CL protein as         any of the nucleic acids of (i) to (iii) above, but differing         from the nucleic acids of (i) to (iii) above due to the         degeneracy of the genetic code.

Another preferred embodiment is a method for plant improvement comprising

-   (a) obtaining a transgenic plant by any of the methods of the     present invention; -   (b) combining within one plant cell the genetic material of at least     one plant cell of the plant of (a) with the genetic material of at     least one cell differing in one or more gene from the plant cells of     the plants of (a) or crossing the transgenic plant of (a) with a     second plant; -   (c) obtaining seed from at least one plant generated from the one     plant cell of (b) or the plant of the cross of step (b); -   (d) planting said seeds and growing the seeds to plants; and -   (e) selecting from said plants, plants expressing the nucleic acid     encoding the CL protein; and optionally -   (f) producing propagation material from the plants expressing the     nucleic acid encoding the CL protein.

The transgenic plants may be selected by known methods as described above (e.g., by screening for the presence of one or more markers which are encoded by plant-expressible genes co-transferred with the CL gene or screening for the CL nucleic acid itself).

The invention is hereinafter further described using examples, tables and figures, particularly detailing preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, neither of these is to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims to the invention, but are rather intended to be exemplary of certain embodiments. Any variations in the exemplified methods that occur to the skilled artisan are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Example 1: General Methods

The chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides can be affected, for example, in the known fashion using the phosphoamidite method (Voet, Voet, 2nd Edition, Wiley Press New York, pages 896-897). The cloning steps carried out for the purposes of the present invention such as, for example, restriction cleavages, agarose gel electrophoresis, purification of DNA fragments, transfer of nucleic acids to nitrocellulose and nylon membranes, linking DNA fragments, transformation of E. coli cells, bacterial cultures, phage multiplication and sequence analysis of recombinant DNA, are carried out as described by Sambrook et al. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989), ISBN 0-87969-309-6. The sequencing of recombinant DNA molecules is carried out with an MWG-Licor laser fluorescence DNA sequencer following the method of Sanger (Sanger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74, 5463 (1977)).

Example 2: Performing Microarray Analysis with Arabidopsis thaliana Plants Inoculated with Soybean Rust

For RNA extraction frozen leaf material from four plants per genotype and treatment was pooled and ground in liquid nitrogen. RNA was extracted following a modified guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol protocol (Chomczynski and Sacchi, 1987) in combination with the Rneasy® Mini Kit (Qiagen). Thereto, 1 ml of RNA extraction reagent was added to 100 mg of homogenized plant material and the mixture was vortexed thoroughly. After an incubation of 5 min at RT, 200 μl of chloroform were added and the samples mixed again for at least 15 sec. After incubation for 3 more minutes the samples were centrifuged at −4° C. and 14,°000 rpm for 15 min in a tabletop centrifuge. Subsequently, 400 μl of the upper aqueous phase was transferred into a new microcentifuge tube and RNA was precipitated adding 200 μl ethanol (96%). From here, the Rneasy® Mini Kit (Qiagen) was followed starting from step 6 (Protocol: Purification of Total RNA from Plant Cells and Tissues and Filamentous Fungi). 10 to 15 μg of RNA from two independently performed experiments was sent to the IFG in Münster for hybridization with ATH1 gene chips. Raw data from microarray experiments was obtained from the IFG in Münster as Affymetrix cel files. All array cel files were compressed to zip files and uploaded to the webbased pipeline for microarray gene expression profile analysis, GEPAS (http://www.gepas.org). Raw data was subsequently normalized using following settings in parallel:

1. rma; constant, pmonly, medianpolish (log transformation integrated)

2. rma; quantiles, pmonly, medianpolish (log transformation integrated)

3. rma; invariant set, pmonly, medianpolish (log transformation integrated)

Example 3: Bioinformatical Selection of CL Genes

Gene expression data was subsequently analyzed using the Microsoft Excel© macro FiRe (Garcion et al., 2006). Using this tool gene expression data was analyzed for genes that were induced at least 1.2 fold in P. pachyrhizi-treated pen2-1 mutants but not in P. pachyrhizi-infected Col-0 or pen2 pad4 sag101 plants and which were at the same time equally expressed among all mock-treated genotypes. This setting was applied for expression data of all biological replicates and normalization procedures. Then, consistent genes between two biological replicates of each normalization procedure where selected by merging respective gene lists. After that genes consistent among all three normalization procedures were identified, yielding a set of 25 candidate genes.

Example 4: Verification of Expression Pattern of CL-Genes

To verify the gene induction of these 25 candidate genes in P. pachyrhizi-infected pen2-1 mutants with an alternative method, RNA was extracted from three independent experiments from pen2-1 mutants at two days after infection with P. pachyrhizi or mock inoculation following a modified guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol protocol (Chomczynski and Sacchi, 1987). 1 ml of RNA extraction reagent was added to 100 mg of homogenized plant material and the mixture was vortexed thoroughly. After an incubation of 5 minutes at RT, 200 μl of chloroform were added and the samples mixed again for at least 15 sec. After incubation for 3 more minutes the samples were centrifuged at −4° C. and 14,000 rpm for 15 min in a tabletop centrifuge. Subsequently, the upper aqueous phase was transferred into a new microcentifuge tube. To precipitate the RNA 500 μl of isopropanol were added, the samples shortly mixed on a Vortex shaker, incubated at RT for 10 min, and centrifuged at −4° C. and 14,000 rpm for 10 min. The resulting pellet was washed with 70% (v/v) ethanol and centrifuged again for 5 minutes. Afterwards the supernatant was removed, the pellet dried for 10 min and then 30 μl of DEPC-treated water were added. RNA was dissolved by heating the samples for 10 min at 60° C. and pipetting up and down. RNA was stored at −20° C.

RNA samples were transcribed into cDNA. Before cDNA synthesis, a 1 μg of RNA of each sample was subjected to DNAse 1 treatment of the RNA samples was performed according to manufactures instructions (Fermentas). For synthesis of cDNA 1 μl random primer (50 μM stock solution, Invitrogen) and 1 μl DEPC-treated water were added to each sample, followed by an incubation at 70° C. for 5 min, to allow primer annealing. Afterwards, 4 μl 5×M-MuLV buffer (Fermentas), 2 μl dNTPs (10 mM stock solution), 1 μL RevertAid™ M-MuLV Reverse Transcriptase (Fermentas) and 1 μl DEPC-treated water were added to each sample. Reverse transcription of RNA was initiated by incubation of the samples at 37° C. for 60 min. With a last incubation step at 70° C. for 10 min the enzyme was inactivated. cDNA was stored at −20° C.

Differential gene expression among P. pachyrhizi-infected and mock treated pen2-1 mutants was subsequently analyzed by RT-qPCR using gene-specific primers for each candidate gene. To perform RT-qPCR a master mix of 5 μl Platinum® SYBR® Green qPCR Super-Mix-UDG with ROX (Invitrogen), 7 μl H20, and 0.15 μl of each primer (end concentration 150 nM) per reaction was prepared and pipetted in 96-well plates (Sarstedt). Before use cDNA was diluted 1:10. 2 μl cDNA were added to each well and for each reaction three technical replicates were done. The PCR reaction was performed in 7300 Real Time PCR Detection System (Applied Biosystems) under the following conditions: 2 min (50° C.), 10 min (95° C.), 40 cycles [15 s (95° C.), 1 min (60° C.)]. The AbiPrism 7300 SDS System software was used to analyze the data. According to the mathematic model of Livak and Schmittgen (2001) every gene specific transcript level was normalized to the respective housekeeping gene using the 2-ΔΔCt method. ACTIN2 was used as the supposedly constitutively expressed reference gene for Arabidopsis. Genes were defined to be silenced at a relative expression level of 50% or below in comparison to the non-transformed control.

The induction of gene expression of all CL genes in Arabidopsis pen2 mutant after inoculation with Phakopsora pachyrhizi in comparison to Arabidopsis wild-type Col-0 could be confirmed (FIG. 1a ). In addition exemplary results for an in depth analysis for the CL genes CL4, CL7 and CL22 are given in FIG. 1c , showing that the CL genes are exclusively expressed during post-invasive resistance against soybean rust in Arabidopsis pen2 mutant (FIG. 1c ).

By deeper anaylzing the CL7 gene family (germin-like proteins), a homolog of CL7, called GLP9, was discovered, which showed an expression pattern nearly identical to CL7 (FIG. 1b ) and also confers, improves or modifies resistance against infections by fungal pathogens, as described herein.

Example 5: Evaluation of CL Gene Effect in Arabidopsis Example 5.1: Cloning of CL-Silencing Constructs

Candidate genes were then tested for their contribution to Arabidopsis' nonhost resistance in pen2-1 against P. pachyrhizi by double stranded RNA silencing. Thereto, either parts of the candidate gene sequence or the full coding region was used in a silencing vector to mediate post-transcriptional gene silencing. If available, clones for Arabidopsis candidate genes were obtained from TAIR (www. arabidopsis.org) as either entry clones containing full length coding region (CL6, CL9, CL10, CL13, CL16, CL24, GLP9) or parts of it or as expression vectors containing artificial microRNA sequences specifically targeting the gene of interest (CL3, CL5, CL7, CL11, CL23). Entry clones were used in the LR reaction to clone the gene-specific insert into the destination vector pJawohl8 (B. Ülker, Genbank accession number AF408413.1). The destination vectors for gene silencing include two lambda integration sites, one in a sense and one in an antisense direction, to create a double-stranded hairpin RNA which will be recognized by the post-transcriptional gene silencing machinery and, therefore, mediate specific degradation of targeted mRNA. Expression clones were used for plant transformation (see below). For candidate genes without corresponding clones at TAIR, a fragment for silencing (full length or a fragment of the coding regions' 3′ ends part) was amplified by PCR using primers which were designed using the Primer 3 program. The Gateway®-specific regions attb1 and attb2 were added at the primers' 5′ ends for cloning with Gateway® technology (Invitrogen). Amplification was done using proofreading Phusion® High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase (Finnzymes). (Primer sequences are listed in Table 2). PCR products were cleaned using the QIAquick® PCR Purification Kit (Qiagen). Gateway® cloning was performed according to manufacturer's instructions using Gateway® BP Clonase® II enzyme mix and Gateway® LR Clonase® II enzyme mix (both Invitrogen). As donor vector, pDONR207 (Invitrogen) was used and as destination vector, the sequences were cloned into the binary silencing vector pJawohl8.

Entry and expression vectors were amplified in E. coli DH5α and isolated from bacteria using the Zyppy™ Plasmid Miniprep kit (Zymo Research).

Example 5.2: Arabidopsis Transformation

For Arabidopsis transformation, the expression vectors were transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101 and Arabidopsis Col-0 and pen2-1 plants (Lipka et al., 2005) were dipped into Agrobacterium suspension following a modified protocol (Bechtold and Pelletier, 1998) of Clough and Bent (1998). Only those constructs obtained from TAIR harbouring artificial miRNA ((CL3, CL5, CL7, CL11, CL23; see Example 5.1)) were co-transformed with Agrobacteria containing pSoup (Hellens et al., 2000). Dipped plants were allowed to set seed. Seeds produced by dipped plants were sown on soil drenched with 1 ml/L (v/v) Basta® (Bayer CropScience) for selection of plants with transformation events. The pJawoh18-based vectors carry the coding sequence of a phosphinotricin-acetyltransferase which provides resistance against the glufosinate herbicide Basta®. Healthy-looking seedlings were transplanted into fresh soil at approximately two weeks after germination. These plants were tested for positive silencing using RT-qPCR. Thereto, five-week-old plants were inoculated with P. pachyrhizi together with pen2-1 control plants as described above. Leaf material was harvested for each plant after 48 hpi for RNA extraction (one leaf per plant) and microscopy (two leaves per plant). Methods for RNA extraction following a modified guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol protocol (Chomczynski and Sacchi, 1987) and microscopy are described above.

Example 6: Resistance Evaluation in CL-Gene Silenced Arabidopsis thaliana

Successfully silenced plants were analyzed microscopically after trypan blue staining to determine if the interaction of the plant with P. pachyrhizi has changed in silenced plants compared to untransformed control plants. Thereto, Arabidopsis leaves were incubated in trypan blue solution (10% (v/v) lactic acid, 10% (v/v) glycerol, 10% (v/v) deionized H2O, 70% (v/v) Ethanol, 0.025% (w/v) trypan blue) and incubated for 1 min at 80° C. to stain fungal structures and collapsed plant cells (Keogh et al., 1980). After incubation for 10 min at RT the staining solution was replaced by chloral hydrate (2.5 g/ml (w/v)) destaining solution. Leaves were kept in destaining solution for at least two days, before they were mounted on object slides in 50% (v/v) glycerol. For microscopic analysis a Nikon Eclipse50i and a Leica DMRBE microscope were used. 100 interaction sites were examined on each leaf. Statistical evaluation of microscopic results was done with help of the software R (version 2.10.1).

Successful silencing of the resistance genes CI genes either by RNAi or by miRNA should lead to an increased susceptibility of Arabidopsis to soybean rust. It could be shown that the reduction of expression by RNAi (knock down) of CL4, CL7, CL15, CL16, CL22 and CL23 lead to an increased susceptibility in Arabidopsis pen2, indicating for an involvement of these genes in resistance against soybean rust (see FIG. 11). Additionally the inventors could show that the silencing of GLP9 leads to an increased haustoria formation in Arabidopsis pen2 plants from ˜13% haustoria in Arabidopsis pen2 to ˜31% in events silenced in GLP9. It is assumed that also the silencing of other CL genes will increase susceptibility in Arabidopsis.

Example 7: Cloning of Overexpression Vector Constructs

The cDNAs of all genes mentioned in this application were generated by DNA synthesis (Geneart, Regensburg, Germany).

The CL7, CL20, CL21 and CL24 cDNAs were synthesized in a way that a Pacl restriction site is located in front of the start-ATG and a Ascl restriction site downstream of the stop-codon. The synthesized cDNA were digested using the restriction enzymes Pacl and Ascl (NEB Biolabs) and ligated in a Pacl/Ascl digested Gateway pENTRY vector (Invitrogen, Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif., USA) in a way that the full-length fragment is located in sense direction between the parsley ubiquitine promoter (PcUbi) and a Solanum tuberosum CAT-pA terminator.

To obtain the binary plant transformation vector, a triple LR reaction (Gateway system, (Invitrogen, Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif., USA) was performed according to manufacturers' protocol by using an empty pENTRY-A vector, the above described pENTRY-B vector containing the cDNA and an empty pENTRY-C vector. As target a binary pDEST vector was used which is composed of: (1) a Spectinomycin/Streptomycin resistance cassette for bacterial selection (2) a pVS1 origin for replication in Agrobacteria (3) a pBR322 origin of replication for stable maintenance in E. coli and (4) between the right and left border an AHAS selection under control of a PcUbi-promoter. The recombination reaction was transformed into E. coli (DH5alpha), mini-prepped and screened by specific restriction digestions. A positive clone from each vector construct was sequenced and submitted soy transformation.

The other CL cDNAs (including GLP9) are synthesized in a way that a Pacl restriction site is located in front of the start-ATG and a Ascl restriction site downstream of the stop-codon. The synthesized cDNA are digested using the restriction enzymes Pacl and Ascl (NEB Biolabs) and ligated in a Pacl/Ascl digested Gateway pENTRY vector (Invitrogen, Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif., USA) in a way that the full-length fragment is located in sense direction between the parsley ubiquitine promoter (PcUbi) and a Solanum tuberosum CAT-pA terminator.

To obtain the binary plant transformation vector, a triple LR reaction (Gateway system, (Invitrogen, Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif., USA) is performed according to manufacturers' protocol by using an empty pENTRY-A vector, the above described pENTRY-B vector containing the cDNA and an empty pENTRY-C vector. As target a binary pDEST vector is used which is composed of: (1) a Spectinomycin/Streptomycin resistance cassette for bacterial selection (2) a pVS1 origin for replication in Agrobacteria (3) a pBR322 origin of replication for stable maintenance in E. coli and (4) between the right and left border an AHAS selection under control of a PcUbi-promoter. The recombination reaction is transformed into E. coli (DH5alpha), mini-prepped and screened by specific restriction digestions. A positive clone from each vector construct is sequenced and submitted soy transformation.

Example 8: Soy Transformation

The expression vector constructs (see Example 7) were transformed into soy.

8.1 Sterilization and Germination of Soy Seeds

Virtually any seed of any soy variety can be employed in the method of the invention. A variety of soycultivar (including Jack, Williams 82, and Resnik) is appropriate for soy transformation. Soy seeds were sterilized in a chamber with a chlorine gas produced by adding 3.5 ml 12N HCl drop wise into 100 ml bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) in a desiccator with a tightly fitting lid. After 24 to 48 hours in the chamber, seeds were removed and approximately 18 to 20 seeds were plated on solid GM medium with or without 5 μM 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP) in 100 mm Petri dishes. Seedlings without BAP are more elongated and roots develop, especially secondary and lateral root formation. BAP strengthens the seedling by forming a shorter and stockier seedling.

Seven-day-old seedlings grown in the light (>100 μEinstein/m²s) at 25° C. were used for explant material for the three-explant types. At this time, the seed coat was split, and the epicotyl with the unifoliate leaves have grown to, at minimum, the length of the cotyledons. The epicotyl should be at least 0.5 cm to avoid the cotyledonary-node tissue (since soy cultivars and seed lots may vary in the developmental time a description of the germination stage is more accurate than a specific germination time).

For inoculation of entire seedlings (Method A, see example 3.3. and 3.3.2) or leaf explants (Method B, see example 3.3.3), the seedlings were then ready for transformation.

For method C (see example 3.3.4), the hypocotyl and one and a half or part of both cotyledons were removed from each seedling. The seedlings were then placed on propagation media for 2 to 4 weeks. The seedlings produce several branched shoots to obtain explants from. The majority of the explants originated from the plantlet growing from the apical bud. These explants were preferably used as target tissue.

8.2—Growth and Preparation of Agrobacterium Culture

Agrobacterium cultures were prepared by streaking Agrobacterium (e.g., A. tumefaciens or A. rhizogenes) carrying the desired binary vector (e.g. H. Klee. R. Horsch and S. Rogers 1987 Agrobacterium-Mediated Plant Transformation and its further Applications to Plant Biology; Annual Review of Plant Physiology Vol. 38: 467-486) onto solid YEP growth medium YEP media: 10 g yeast extract. 10 g Bacto Peptone, 5 g NaCl, adjust pH to 7.0, and bring final volume to 1 liter with H2O, for YEP agar plates add 20 g Agar, autoclave) and incubating at 25° C. until colonies appeared (about 2 days). Depending on the selectable marker genes present on the Ti or Ri plasmid, the binary vector, and the bacterial chromosomes, different selection compounds were be used for A. tumefaciens and rhizogenes selection in the YEP solid and liquid media. Various Agrobacterium strains can be used for the transformation method.

After approximately two days, a single colony (with a sterile toothpick) was picked and 50 ml of liquid YEP was inoculated with antibiotics and shaken at 175 rpm (25° C.) until an OD₆₀₀ between 0.8-1.0 is reached (approximately 2 d). Working glycerol stocks (15%) for transformation are prepared and one-ml of Agrobacterium stock aliquoted into 1.5 ml Eppendorf tubes then stored at −80° C.

The day before explant inoculation, 200 ml of YEP were inoculated with 5 μl to 3 ml of working Agrobacterium stock in a 500 ml Erlenmeyer flask. The flask was shaked overnight at 25° C. until the OD₆₀₀ was between 0.8 and 1.0. Before preparing the soyexplants, the Agrobacteria were pelleted by centrifugation for 10 min at 5,500×g at 20° C. The pellet was resuspended in liquid CCM to the desired density (OD₆₀₀ 0.5-0.8) and placed at room temperature at least 30 min before use.

8.3—Explant Preparation and Co-Cultivation (Inoculation)

8.3.1 Method A: Explant Preparation on the Day of Transformation.

Seedlings at this time had elongated epicotyls from at least 0.5 cm but generally between 0.5 and 2 cm. Elongated epicotyls up to 4 cm in length had been successfully employed. Explants were then prepared with: i) with or without some roots, ii) with a partial, one or both cotyledons, all preformed leaves were removed including apical meristem, and the node located at the first set of leaves was injured with several cuts using a sharp scalpel.

This cutting at the node not only induced Agrobacterium infection but also distributed the axillary meristem cells and damaged pre-formed shoots. After wounding and preparation, the explants were set aside in a Petri dish and subsequently co-cultivated with the liquid CCM/Agrobacterium mixture for 30 minutes. The explants were then removed from the liquid medium and plated on top of a sterile filter paper on 15×100 mm Petri plates with solid co-cultivation medium. The wounded target tissues were placed such that they are in direct contact with the medium.

8.3.2 Modified Method A: Epicotyl Explant Preparation

Soy epicotyl segments prepared from 4 to 8 d old seedlings were used as explants for regeneration and transformation. Seeds of soyacv L00106CN, 93-41131 and Jack were germinated in 1/10 MS salts or a similar composition medium with or without cytokinins for 4 to 8 d. Epicotyl explants were prepared by removing the cotyledonary node and stem node from the stem section. The epicotyl was cut into 2 to 5 segments. Especially preferred are segments attached to the primary or higher node comprising axillary meristematic tissue.

The explants were used for Agrobacterium infection. Agrobacterium AGL1 harboring a plasmid with the GUS marker gene and the AHAS, bar or dsdA selectable marker gene was cultured in LB medium with appropriate antibiotics overnight, harvested and resuspended in a inoculation medium with acetosyringone. Freshly prepared epicotyl segments were soaked in the Agrobacterium suspension for 30 to 60 min and then the explants were blotted dry on sterile filter papers. The inoculated explants were then cultured on a co-culture medium with L-cysteine and TTD and other chemicals such as acetosyringone for enhancing T-DNA delivery for 2 to 4 d. The infected epicotyl explants were then placed on a shoot induction medium with selection agents such as imazapyr (for AHAS gene), glufosinate (for bar gene), or D-serine (for dsdA gene). The regenerated shoots were subcultured on elongation medium with the selective agent.

For regeneration of transgenic plants the segments were then cultured on a medium with cytokinins such as BAP, TDZ and/or Kinetin for shoot induction. After 4 to 8 weeks, the cultured tissues were transferred to a medium with lower concentration of cytokinin for shoot elongation. Elongated shoots were transferred to a medium with auxin for rooting and plant development.

Multiple shoots were regenerated.

Many stable transformed sectors showing strong expression were recovered. Soy plants were regenerated from epicotyl explants. Efficient T-DNA delivery and stable transformed sectors were demonstrated.

8.3.3 Method B: Leaf Explants

For the preparation of the leaf explant the cotyledon was removed from the hypocotyl. The cotyledons were separated from one another and the epicotyl is removed. The primary leaves, which consist of the lamina, the petiole, and the stipules, were removed from the epicotyl by carefully cutting at the base of the stipules such that the axillary meristems were included on the explant. To wound the explant as well as to stimulate de novo shoot formation, any pre-formed shoots were removed and the area between the stipules was cut with a sharp scalpel 3 to 5 times.

The explants are either completely immersed or the wounded petiole end dipped into the Agrobacterium suspension immediately after explant preparation. After inoculation, the explants are blotted onto sterile filter paper to remove excess Agrobacterium culture and place explants with the wounded side in contact with a round 7 cm Whatman paper overlaying the solid CCM medium (see above). This filter paper prevents A. tumefaciens overgrowth on the soyexplants. Wrap five plates with Parafilm™ “M” (American National Can, Chicago, Ill., USA) and incubate for three to five days in the dark or light at 25° C.

8.3.4 Method C: Propagated Axillary Meristem

For the preparation of the propagated axillary meristem explant propagated 3-4 week-old plantlets were used. Axillary meristem explants can be pre-pared from the first to the fourth node. An average of three to four explants could be obtained from each seedling. The explants were prepared from plantlets by cutting 0.5 to 1.0 cm below the axillary node on the internode and removing the petiole and leaf from the explant. The tip where the axillary meristems lie was cut with a scalpel to induce de novo shoot growth and allow access of target cells to the Agrobacterium. Therefore, a 0.5 cm explant included the stem and a bud.

Once cut, the explants were immediately placed in the Agrobacterium suspension for 20 to 30 minutes. After inoculation, the explants were blotted onto sterile filter paper to remove excess Agrobacterium culture then placed almost completely immersed in solid CCM or on top of a round 7 cm filter paper overlaying the solid CCM, depending on the Agrobacterium strain. This filter paper prevents Agrobacterium overgrowth on the soyexplants. Plates were wrapped with Parafilm™ “M” (American National Can, Chicago, Ill., USA) and incubated for two to three days in the dark at 25° C.

8.4—Shoot Induction

After 3 to 5 days co-cultivation in the dark at 25° C., the explants were rinsed in liquid SIM medium (to remove excess Agrobacterium) (SIM, see Olhoft et al 2007 A novel Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation method of soyusing primary-node explants from seedlings In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol.-Plant (2007) 43:536-549; to remove excess Agrobacterium) or Modwash medium (1×B5 major salts, 1×B5 minor salts, 1×MSIII iron, 3% Sucrose, 1×B5 vitamins, 30 mM MES, 350 mg/L Timentin™ pH 5.6, WO 2005/121345) and blotted dry on sterile filter paper (to prevent damage especially on the lamina) before placing on the solid SIM medium. The approximately 5 explants (Method A) or 10 to 20 (Methods B and C) explants were placed such that the target tissue was in direct contact with the medium. During the first 2 weeks, the explants could be cultured with or without selective medium. Preferably, explants were transferred onto SIM without selection for one week.

For leaf explants (Method B), the explant should be placed into the medium such that it is perpendicular to the surface of the medium with the petiole imbedded into the medium and the lamina out of the medium.

For propagated axillary meristem (Method C), the explant was placed into the medium such that it was parallel to the surface of the medium (basipetal) with the explant partially embedded into the medium.

Wrap plates with Scotch 394 venting tape (3M, St. Paul, Minn., USA) were placed in a growth chamber for two weeks with a temperature averaging 25° C. under 18 h light/6 h dark cycle at 70-100 μE/m²s. The explants remained on the SIM medium with or without selection until de novo shoot growth occured at the target area (e.g., axillary meristems at the first node above the epicotyl). Transfers to fresh medium can occur during this time. Explants were transferred from the SIM with or without selection to SIM with selection after about one week. At this time, there was considerable de novo shoot development at the base of the petiole of the leaf explants in a variety of SIM (Method B), at the primary node for seedling explants (Method A), and at the axillary nodes of propagated explants (Method C).

Preferably, all shoots formed before transformation were removed up to 2 weeks after co-cultivation to stimulate new growth from the meristems. This helped to reduce chimerism in the primary transformant and increase amplification of transgenic meristematic cells. During this time the explant may or may not be cut into smaller pieces (i.e. detaching the node from the explant by cutting the epicotyl).

8.5—Shoot Elongation

After 2 to 4 weeks (or until a mass of shoots was formed) on SIM medium (preferably with selection), the explants were transferred to SEM medium medium (shoot elongation medium, see Olhoft et al 2007 A novel Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation method of soy using primary-node explants from seedlings. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol.-Plant (2007) 43:536-549) that stimulates shoot elongation of the shoot primordia. This medium may or may not contain a selection compound.

After every 2 to 3 weeks, the explants were transfer to fresh SEM medium (preferably containing selection) after carefully removing dead tissue. The explants should hold together and not fragment into pieces and retain somewhat healthy. The explants were continued to be transferred until the explant dies or shoots elongate. Elongated shoots >3 cm were removed and placed into RM medium for about 1 week (Method A and B), or about 2 to 4 weeks depending on the cultivar (Method C) at which time roots began to form. In the case of explants with roots, they were transferred directly into soil. Rooted shoots were transferred to soil and hardened in a growth chamber for 2 to 3 weeks before transferring to the greenhouse. Regenerated plants obtained using this method were fertile and produced on average 500 seeds per plant.

Transient GUS expression after 5 days of co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens was widespread on the seedling axillary meristem explants especially in the regions wounding during explant preparation (Method A). Explants were placed into shoot induction medium without selection to see how the primary-node responds to shoot induction and regeneration. Thus far, greater than 70% of the explants were formed new shoots at this region. Expression of the gene was stable after 14 days on SIM, implying integration of the T-DNA into the soy genome. In addition, preliminary experiments resulted in the formation of positive shoots forming after 3 weeks on SIM.

For Method C, the average regeneration time of a soy plantlet using the propagated axillary meristem protocol was 14 weeks from explant inoculation. Therefore, this method has a quick regeneration time that leads to fertile, healthy soy plants.

Example 9: Pathogen Assay

9.1. Recovery of Clones

2-3 clones per T0 event were potted into small 6 cm pots. For recovery the clones were kept for 12-18 days in the Phytochamber (16 h-day-und 8 h-night-Rhythm at a temperature of 16° to 22° C. und a humidity of 75% were grown).

9.2 Inoculation

The rust fungus is a wild isolate from Brazil. The plants were inoculated with P. pachyrhizi.

In order to obtain appropriate spore material for the inoculation, soy leaves which had been infected with rust 15-20 days ago, were taken 2-3 days before the inoculation and transferred to agar plates (1% agar in H2O). The leaves were placed with their upper side onto the agar, which allowed the fungus to grow through the tissue and to produce very young spores. For the inoculation solution, the spores were knocked off the leaves and were added to a Tween-H2O solution. The counting of spores was performed under a light microscope by means of a Thoma counting chamber. For the inoculation of the plants, the spore suspension was added into a compressed-air operated spray flask and applied uniformly onto the plants or the leaves until the leaf surface is well moisturized. For macroscopic assays the inventors used a spore density of 1-5×105 spores/ml. For the microscopy, a density of >5×105 spores/ml is used. The inoculated plants were placed for 24 hours in a greenhouse chamber with an average of 22° C. and >90% of air humidity. The following cultivation was performed in a chamber with an average of 25° C. and 70% of air humidity.

Example 10: Microscopical Screening

For the evaluation of the pathogen development, the inoculated leaves of plants were stained with aniline blue 48 hours after infection.

The aniline blue staining serves for the detection of fluorescent substances. During the defense reactions in host interactions and non-host interactions, substances such as phenols, callose or lignin accumulated or were produced and were incorporated at the cell wall either locally in papillae or in the whole cell (hypersensitive reaction, HR). Complexes were formed in association with aniline blue, which lead e.g. in the case of callose to yellow fluorescence. The leaf material was transferred to falcon tubes or dishes containing destaining solution II (ethanol/acetic acid 6/1) and was incubated in a water bath at 90° C. for 10-15 minutes. The destaining solution II was removed immediately thereafter, and the leaves were washed 2× with water. For the staining, the leaves were incubated for 1.5-2 hours in staining solution II (0.05% aniline blue=methyl blue, 0.067 M di-potassium hydrogen phosphate) and analyzed by microscopy immediately thereafter.

The different interaction types were evaluated (counted) by microscopy. An Olympus UV microscope BX61 (incident light) and a UV Longpath filter (excitation: 375/15, Beam splitter: 405 LP) are used. After aniline blue staining, the spores appeared blue under UV light. The papillae coul be recognized beneath the fungal appressorium by a green/yellow staining. The hypersensitive reaction (HR) was characterized by a whole cell fluorescence.

Example 11: Evaluating the Susceptibility to Soybean Rust

The progression of the soybean rust disease was scored by the estimation of the diseased area (area which was covered by sporulating uredinia) on the backside (abaxial side) of the leaf. Additionally the yellowing of the leaf was taken into account (for scheme see FIG. 2).

11.1 Overexpression of CL7

T0 soybean plants expressing CL7 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The macroscopic disease symptoms of 23 T0 soybean plants were scored 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 23 soybean T0 plants expressing CL7 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. Clones from non-transgenic soy plants were used as control. The average of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 3 for plants expressing recombinant CL7 compared with wildtype plants. Overexpression of CL7 reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 28% (p<0.01). This data clearly indicate that the in planta expression of the CL7 expression vector construct lead to a lower disease scoring of transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic controls. So, the expression of CL7 in soy enhances the resistance of soy against soybean rust.

11.2 Overexpression of CL20

T0 soybean plants expressing CL20 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The macroscopic disease symptoms of 25 T0 soybean plants were scored 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 25 soybean T0 plants expressing CL20 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. Clones from non-transgenic soy plants were used as control. The average of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 4 for plants expressing recombinant CL20 compared with wildtype plants. Overexpression of CL20 reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 38% (p<0.01). This data clearly indicate that the in planta expression of the CL20 expression vector construct lead to a lower disease scoring of transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic controls. So, the expression of CL20 in soy enhances the resistance of soy against soybean rust.

11.3 Overexpression of CL21

T0 soybean plants expressing CL21 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The macroscopic disease symptoms of 29 T0 soybean plants were scored 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 29 soybean T0 plants expressing CL21 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. Clones from non-transgenic soy plants were used as control. The average of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 5 for plants expressing recombinant CL21 compared with wildtype plants. Overexpression of CL21 reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 45% (p<0.05). This data clearly indicate that the in planta expression of the CL21 expression vector construct lead to a lower disease scoring of transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic controls. So, the expression of CL21 in soy enhances the resistance of soy against soybean rust.

11.4 Overexpression of CL24

T0 soybean plants expressing CL24 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The macroscopic disease symptoms of 17 T0 soybean plants were scored 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 17 soybean T0 plants expressing CL24 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. Clones from non-transgenic soy plants were used as control. The average of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 6 for plants expressing recombinant CL24 compared with wildtype plants. Overexpression of CL24 reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 35% (p<0.05). This data clearly indicate that the in planto expression of the CL24 expression vector construct lead to a lower disease scoring of transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic controls. So, the expression of CL24 in soy enhances the resistance of soy against soybean rust.

11.5 Overexpression of CL4

At all 44 T1 soybean plants (5 independent events, 8-10 transgenic plants each) expressing the CL4 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The macroscopic disease symptoms caused by P. pachyrhizi on the inoculated soybean plants were scored 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 44 soybean T1 plants expressing CL4 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants of the same variety. Non-transgenic soy plants grown in parallel to the transgenic plants were used as control. The average of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 7 for plants expressing recombinant CL4 compared with wildtype plants. Overexpression of CL4 reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 28.5% in average (median) over all events generated. This data clearly indicates that the in-planta expression of the CL4 expression vector construct lead to a lower disease scoring of transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic controls. So, the expression of CL4 in soybean significantly (p<0.01) increased the resistance of soybean against soybean rust.

11.6 Overexpression of CL13

T0 soybean plants expressing CL13 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The macroscopic disease symptoms of 24 T0 soybean plants were scored 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 24 soybean T0 plants expressing CL13 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. Clones from non-transgenic soy plants were used as control. The average of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 8 for plants expressing recombinant CL13 compared with wildtype plants. Overexpression of CL13 reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 40% (p<0.01). This data clearly indicates that the in-planta expression of the CL13 expression vector construct lead to a lower disease scoring of transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic controls. So, the expression of CL13 in soybean enhances the resistance of soy against soybean rust.

11.7 Overexpression of GLP9

At all 28 T0 soybean plants from 11 independent events expressing GLP9 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The macroscopic disease symptoms were scored 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 28 soybean T0 plants expressing GLP9 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. Clones from non-transgenic soy plants were used as control. The median of the diseased leaf area of wild type plants and transgenic events is shown in FIG. 9. Overexpression of GLP9 reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 20%. This data clearly shows that the in planta expression of the GLP9 expression vector construct lead to a lower disease scoring of transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic controls. So, the expression of GLP9 in soybean enhances the resistance of soybean against soybean rust.

11.8 Overexpression of CL22

At all 26 T0 soybean plants from 10 independent events expressing the CL22 protein were inoculated with spores of Phakopsora pachyrhizi. The macroscopic disease symptoms of the inoculated soybean plants were scored 14 days after inoculation. The average of the percentage of the leaf area showing fungal colonies or strong yellowing/browning on all leaves was considered as diseased leaf area. At all 26 soybean T0 plants expressing CL22 (expression checked by RT-PCR) were evaluated in parallel to non-transgenic control plants. Clones from non-transgenic soy plants were used as control. The average of the diseased leaf area is shown in FIG. 10 for plants expressing recombinant CL22 compared with wildtype plants. Overexpression of CL22 reduces the diseased leaf area in comparison to non-transgenic control plants by 40% (p<0.01). This data clearly indicates that the in-planta expression of the CL22 expression vector construct lead to a lower disease scoring of transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic controls. So, the expression of CL22 in soybean enhances the resistance of soybean against soybean rust.

TABLE 1 List of the candidate genes selected by the method described in Example 3 CL-gene Description locus CL1 avirulence-responsive family protein/avirulence induced gene At1g33950 (AIG1) family protein CL2 protein kinase family protein At4g04510 CL3 expressed protein At3g57950 CL4 leucine-rich repeat protein kinase, putative At1g51860 CL5 AAA-type ATPase family protein At5g17760 CL6 glutamate receptor family protein (GLR2.5) At5g11210 CL7 germin-like protein, putative At5g38910 CL8 ABC transporter, putative At3g13090 CL9 heat shock cognate 70 kDa protein 2 (HSC70-2) (HSP70-2) At5g02490 CL10 ACA13: calcium-transporting ATPase, plasma membrane- At3g22910 type, putative/Ca(2+)-ATPase, putative (ACA13) CL11 calcineurin-like phosphoesterase family protein At3g09960 CL12 invertase/pectin methylesterase inhibitor family protein At5g46960 CL13 expressed protein At1g24575 CL14 cytochrome P450, putative At3g03470 CL15 lectin protein kinase family protein At3g45410 CL16 UDP-glucosyltransferase, putative At3g21560 CL17 long-chain-fatty-acid-CoA ligase, putative/long-chain acyl- At1g64400 CoA synthetase, putative CL18 DFL-1: auxin-responsive GH3 protein, putative (DFL-1) At5g54510 CL19 carbonic anhydrase family protein At2g28210 CL20 CA4H: trans-cinnamate 4-monooxygenase/cinnamic acid 4- At2g30490 hydroxylase (C4H) (CA4H)/cytochrome P450 CL21 disease resistance family protein/LRR family protein At4g13820 CL22 expressed protein At2g16900 CL23 ankyrin repeat family protein At4g14390 CL24 GDSL-motif lipase/hydrolase family protein At5g03610 CL25 peroxidase, putative At5g06730

TABLE 2  Primer sequences for cloning of Arabidopsis CL silencing constructs Clone  Sequence Primers for Gateway ®-based cloning SEQ type name Name 5′-3′ sequence ID NO ds  CL1 ds At1g33950ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTAAGCAGAGCAAGTCCATAAGC 61 clones At1g33950ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTATGGAGTAATTGGCGGCAAC 62 CL2 ds At4g04510ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTAAAACCCTCCACGGAGTTAAAGC 63 At4g04510ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTAGCGAATGTGTCGATAGCAACAG 64 CL4 ds At1g51860ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTATGTGGGTTGGTGCCTAAG 65 At1g51860ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTAGCCGTGAGGTTGACATTG 66 CL8 ds At3g13090ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTATTCTCCTCCAGCCCATCTACC 67 At3g13090ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTAGAAACAAGCCAGCGCAGAC 68 CL11 ds At3g09960ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTAAGCTCAGCTCTCGTCATC 69 At3g09960ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTAATCTTTCCCGCCCATCTC 70 CL12 ds At5g46960ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTACGTGCGTATATGGAAAGC 71 At5g46960ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTAACAATTGCGGGTCTTTCG 72 CL14 ds At3g03470ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTAGTTGGCTCTGATGTGTTTCG 73 At3g03470ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTACCTCTTCTTCCCTCCTTCTTTC 74 CL15 ds At3g45410ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTAGCCTGTCAAGTCAACAAG 75 At3g45410ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTAGTTGCGTATGCATGAGAG 76 CL17 ds At1g64400ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTATGGGTTATGACGCTCTTG 77 At1g64400ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTAAGTGTGAAGCCATCCATC 78 CL18 ds At5g54510ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTACAAAGATCGCAGCTTTGGAG 79 At5g54510ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTACACCATTGGCGATTCTGTTG 80 CL19 ds At2g28210ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTAAAGCTAAGACCGGAATGG 81 At2g28210ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTATGAGAGTGGCGTTACAAG 82 CL21 ds At4g13820ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTAGAGAGGCATGGTCGATTTC 83 At4g13820ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTAAACTCCGGTAGACTCCACAAC 84 CL25ds At5g06730ds_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTACGATCTGAGCACACCTGATG 85 At5g06730ds_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTACTGCTTCAGTGGCTGATGAC 86 full CL5 At5g17760oe_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTAATGTTTTTCTCTAAGGATCTTCC 87 length At5g17760oe_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTATTATGTCCAAAACAATACAAGC 88 clones CL7 At5g38910oe_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTAATGAAAAGTTTCTCATTTCTTGCAG 89 At5g38910oe_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTATTATGGTTTTATGAACTTGGTCTGT 90 CL11 At3g09960oe_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTAATGATGACCCAAAAACCA 91 At3g09960oe_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTATTAATTGGAAAAATTATCGGTGT 92 CL14 At3g03470oe_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTAATGGAGATCACCACTATCATATTCC 93 At3g03470oe_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTATCACTTTCTCCTTGGATAAATATTTGC 94 CL20 At2g30490oe_F GGGGACAAGTTTGTACAAAAAAGCAGGCTTAATGGACCTCCTCTTGCTGGA 95 At2g30490oe_R GGGGACCACTTTGTACAAGAAAGCTGGGTATTAACAGTTCCTTGGTTTCATAACG 96 ds: for double stranded RNA silencing

TABLE 3 Compilation of genes and sequence identifiers gene Nucleic acid gene protein CL SEQ ID NO: CL SEQ ID NO: CL1 3 CL1 5 CL1 4 CL1 6 CL2 35 CL2 36 CL3 33 CL3 34 CL4 7 CL4 8 CL5 49 CL5 51 CL5 50 CL5 52 CL6 47 CL6 48 CL7 53 CL7 54 CL8 25 CL8 26 CL9 41 CL9 42 CL10 29 CL10 30 CL11 23 CL11 24 CL12 55 CL12 56 CL13 1 CL13 2 CL14 21 CL14 22 CL15 31 CL15 32 CL16 27 CL16 28 CL17 9 CL17 10 CL18 57 CL18 58 CL19 17 CL19 18 CL20 19 CL20 20 CL21 37 CL21 38 CL22 11 CL22 14 CL22 12 CL22 15 CL22 13 CL22 16 CL23 39 CL23 40 CL24 43 CL24 44 CL25 45 CL25 46 GLP9 59 GLP9 60 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for preventing or reducing Phakopsora infection in a transgenic soybean plant, a transgenic soybean plant part, or a transgenic soybean plant cell, said method comprising: providing a transgenic soybean plant, transgenic soybean plant part, or transgenic soybean plant cell with a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence with at least 95% identity with SEQ ID NO:8, wherein the protein confers increased resistance against Phakopsora thereto as compared to a wild type soybean plant, a wild type soybean plant part or a wild type soybean plant cell, wherein all of the amino acid residues in the protein not identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 are conservative amino acid substitutions; and growing the transgenic soybean plant, transgenic soybean plant part, or transgenic soybean plant cell in the presence of a fungal pathogen of the genus Phakopsora, wherein Phakopsora infection is prevented or reduced in the transgenic soybean plant, transgenic soybean plant part, or transgenic soybean plant cell as compared to a wild type soybean plant, wild type soybean plant part, or wild type soybean plant cell.
 2. The method of claim 1, said method comprising: (a) stably transforming a soybean plant cell with an expression cassette comprising a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a protein having at least 95% identity with SEQ ID NO: 8 in functional linkage with a promoter, wherein all of the amino acid residues in the protein not identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 are conservative amino acid substitutions; and (b) regenerating the soybean plant from the plant cell.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the heterologous nucleic acid encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence with at least 97% identity to SEQ ID NO:
 8. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the heterologous nucleic acid encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence with at least 98% identity to SEQ ID NO:
 8. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the heterologous nucleic acid encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence with at least 99% identity to SEQ ID NO:
 8. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the heterologous nucleic acid encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence with 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:
 8. 